Size Effects in Bi-Sb Solid Solutions Thin Films

Abstract

ABSTRACTThe room-temperature dependences of the electrical conductivity σ, Seebeck coefficient S, Hall coefficient RH, and the thermoelectric power factor P on the thickness (d=10–300 nm) of the thin films grown on mica substrates by thermal evaporation in vacuum of Bi-Sb solid solutions crystals with 4.5 at.% Sb were obtained. It was established that an increase in d up to ~ 200 nm leads to a change in kinetic coefficients and that in the thickness dependences of the thermoelectric properties, quantum oscillations were observed. It was shown that the monotonic component of the σ(T) dependence can be satisfactorily approximated by theoretical calculations based on the classical Fuchs - Sondheimer theory. The theoretically estimated period of oscillations is in a good agreement with the experimentally observed period.